Pigs have short legs, large heads and stocky bodies covered with bristly hair. They belong to the ungulate group of hoofed animals. Pigs have four toes on each foot, although they walk on only the middle two. They have large canine teeth, which curve upwards to form tusks. These are used for rooting around in the mud for food and for fighting other males in rivalry contests. Pigs use their snouts to sniff out plants, fungi and small animals to eat. Besides domestic pigs and their wild boar ancestors, there are a number of wild relatives, including the warthog and babirusa. The peccary is more distantly related.

Warthog

The warthog is named after the four, wart-like knobs on its head. It lives in the savanna and woodlands of Africa. Its two curved upper tusks can grow to 25 centimetres (10 inches) long. The much shorter lower ones are razor-sharp and can seriously injure would-be predators, such as lions and leopards. The warthog forages for fruits, bark, insects, reptiles, eggs and carrion (dead animals). It often takes over the burrows of other animals such as aardvarks. It wallows in mud to rid itself of insects and cool down in the heat.

Peccaries

Peccaries live in large social herds made up of smaller family groups including males, females and young. Peccaries will defend their territory against intruders and risk their lives to protect the herd from a predator. They feed mostly on roots, fruit and seeds.